Middle distance fields get even faster at USA Track & Field Classic

2/9/2012

INDIANAPOLIS – The fast fields competing in the Geoff Hollister men’s mile and women’s 1,500 at Saturday’s USA Track & Field Classic in Fayetteville, Ark., have gotten faster. Five newly announced entrants, including a World Indoor silver medalist and World Junior champion, deepen the fields.

With the addition of two-time World Indoor silver medalist Daniel Kipchirchir Komen of Kenya (3:48.28PR), the Geoff Hollister Mile now includes five men with personal bests of 3:50 or faster. Also added to the field is American Russell Brown, who ran a PR of 3:51.45 at the 2011 Nike Prefontaine Classic. Announced on Wednesday were World Outdoor silver medalist and U.S. Open champion Silas Kiplagat of Kenya (3:49.39PR), four-time NCAA mile and 1,500m champion Leo Manzano (3:50.64PR), 2010 5th Avenue Mile champion Amine Laalou of Morocco (3:50.22PR), and 2010 World Junior champion Caleb Ndiku of Kenya (3:49.77PR).

The women’s 1,500 now includes New Balance Indoor Grand Prix 1,000m champion and World Outdoor fourth-place finisher Btissam Lakhouad of Morocco (3:59.35PR), 18-year-old World Junior champion Tizita Bogale of Ethiopia and Siham Hilali of Morocco (4:01.33PR). They join a field with previously announced Americans Anna Pierce (3:59.38PR), three-time USA outdoor 1,500m champion Treniere Moser (4:03.32PR), and U.S. Open winner Brenda Martinez.

Held at the University of Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Center, the USA Track & Field Classic is the third stop on USATF’s 2012 Indoor Visa Championship Series. The meet will be televised on ESPN2 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, February 12. The meet will be held in conjunction with the 2012 Tyson Invitational, one of the nation’s premier collegiate meets. For more information and scheduled fields for the USA Track & Field Classic, visit www.visachampionshipseries.com .